During a recent government meeting, officials discussed several key resolutions and operational updates, including the introduction of per diem municipal prosecutors and the recognition of National Code Compliance Month.

Lee Chang, the Director of Immigrant Affairs, expressed interest in serving as a per diem municipal prosecutor during evening court sessions. This initiative aims to alleviate the workload of full-time prosecutors, who currently manage six night sessions across four nights a week. The per diem arrangement allows Chang to clock out from his primary job and clock in for the additional role, receiving a stipend for his work. Officials emphasized that this approach is more cost-effective than employing full-time prosecutors for evening sessions.

The meeting also highlighted the administration's resolution to recognize October as National Code Compliance Month. The resolution expresses gratitude to code inspectors across various departments, including fire prevention and economic development. The administration noted that the number of summonses issued by inspectors has doubled over the past three years, reflecting an increased focus on compliance.

Additionally, the council addressed the award of a contract to Catalyst Payments for credit card and electronic payment services, which will facilitate online property tax payments. The fees for these services were outlined, with a 2.2% charge for credit card transactions and a 95-cent fee for e-checks.

In another matter, the council discussed a resolution to cancel a portion of an erroneous property assessment, which would result in a refund of over $8,000 to the affected property owner. Officials acknowledged concerns regarding the practice of crediting overpayments to future tax bills rather than issuing refunds, indicating that this policy could be revisited.

Overall, the meeting underscored the administration's efforts to enhance municipal operations and address community concerns through improved legal and compliance frameworks.